- Enrollment
- 2,776
- Students per teacher
- 26.4:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Tustin, CA
Pioneer Middle
Federal NCES profile for Pioneer Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 36/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 064015008250
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 3
📋 Attendance 72
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Pioneer Middle earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 96% of California schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #3 of 3
- middle schools in Tustin · Resource Index
- 36
- Resource Index · Typical
- 30.3:1
- large classes for California
- 22.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Pioneer Middle has class sizes larger than 96% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Pioneer Middle ranks #3 of 3 middle schools in Tustin, CA.
School address
District: Tustin Unified · California
NCES ID 064015008250 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+60 students YoY
Pioneer Middle grew from 881 students in 2022-23 to 941 in 2023-24 (+6.8%).
Teacher FTE added 32.3 → 35.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+60 students YoY 064015008250 · Tustin, CA Middle · MID · TRAD
971 enr · 30.3:1 · 22.5% lunch · RII 36
Nearest enrollment peer: Arnold O. Beckman High (2,776 students)
Pioneer Middle grew from 881 students in 2022-23 to 941 in 2023-24 (+6.8%). Teacher FTE added 32.3 → 35.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Pioneer Middle in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Arnold O. Beck
Arnold O. Beckman High
2,776 students
- Foothill High
Foothill High
2,126 students
- Tustin High
Tustin High
1,627 students
- Orchard Hills
Orchard Hills
1,373 students
- Sycamore Magne 1,085
Sycamore Magnet Academy
1,085 students
- This school 971
Pioneer Middle
971 students
What this shows Pioneer Middle reports 971 students on the CCD universe file.
How Pioneer Middle compares
Pioneer Middle is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 30.3:1 | ▲ 41% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 22.5% | ▼ 59% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 971 | top 12% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
30.3:1
Leaner classes than 2% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
971
Bigger than 91% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
22.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 59% below the California average of 55.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
30.3:1
students per teacher
- 41% above state mean
Top 96% in California - lower ratio than 4% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
11.2%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$15,381
per pupil, district-wide
- below California avg of $18,665
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 486 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
16
in-school suspensions + 10 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Asian 38.8%
Hispanic or Latino 28.0%
White 19.3%
Two or More 11.3%
African American 2.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: Asian at 38.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 72.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 72.1, Pioneer Middle is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Tustin Unified reports $15,381 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Pioneer Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arnold O. Beckman High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Foothill High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Tustin High | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Orchard Hills | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Sycamore Magnet Academy | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Pioneer Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,126
- Students per teacher
- 25.6:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 1,627
- Students per teacher
- 20.3:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 1,373
- Students per teacher
- 29.2:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,085
- Students per teacher
- 22.6:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
Similar middle schools in Tustin
2 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Nationwide middle schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~971 students)
Frequently asked questions about Pioneer Middle
How many students attend Pioneer Middle?
Pioneer Middle has 971 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Tustin, CA. CCD year-over-year: 881 (2022-23) → 941 (2023-24), up 60.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Pioneer Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Pioneer Middle is 30.3:1, which is 41% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 93% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Pioneer Middle?
22.5% of students at Pioneer Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Pioneer Middle?
The largest demographic group at Pioneer Middle is Asian at 38.8% of enrollment, in Tustin, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 72.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Pioneer Middle?
Pioneer Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 36/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Pioneer Middle rank among middle schools in Tustin?
By Resource Investment Index, Pioneer Middle ranks #3 of 3 middle schools in Tustin, CA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Tustin on the city page.
What other schools are in Tustin Unified?
Besides Pioneer Middle, Tustin Unified also operates Arnold O. Beckman High (2,776 students), Foothill High (2,126 students), and Tustin High (1,627 students). See the Tustin Unified district page for the complete list.